Mongolia Videos

I have been asked to provide some recap blogs and videos concerning my trip to Mongolia for an article that is running in the Valley Center Roadrunner. Click links below to read previous blog concerning my trip:

Thoughts prior to traveling.

Blog from Mongolia.

Second letter from Mongolia.

Here are some videos, I hope you enjoy!

Saddleridge Ranch 2010!

Today we kicked off Vacation Bible School for 2010! It is a great theme this year: Saddleridge Ranch! So far we have been blessed with a bunch of cowboys and cowgirls! We are running the event through Friday (July 19-23) from 9am - 12pm. It's not too late if you have any young people who would like to participate!

If you're between the age of 3-12 just show up tomorrow by 9am!

Team Guess

On Sunday, July 11, Valley Baptist Church was blessed to have Chris Guess and his family with us to share from the Scriptures. They are currently planning on heading to Romania to serve as missionaries. If you missed the message, or you would like to know more about them, here is the relevant information:

Chris' sermon from Ruth chapter 1 click HERE

To learn more about their ministry go to:

www.teamguess.com

(In)Dependence Day!

Today, July 4, 2010, is the day the United States celebrates its Independence. This is a great holiday to enjoy with friends and family.

Well this one has been profound for me so far. I grew up in South Lake Tahoe from 1st grade until 6th grade. I grew to love this land very much--even though the years were very difficult for me. I grew up in an abusive home and things became very rough during this time. Ultimately I left Tahoe to live with my dad after he finally won a court case that granted him full custody.

Without going into all the details, it is always very therapeutic for me to come here to reflect on my life and where I came from. As you can see from the picture to the left, you can see I was a skinny kid that like his tube socks pulled high! Anna is going to recreate this picture later this week. Okay, on with the story.

The plan today was to visit Calvary Chapel South Lake Tahoe, but they moved locations since I visited 10 years ago. The new location was a couple miles away, but right across the street from where I went to elementary school. I didn't think much about this until we began to worship and my tears began to flow just thinking about the many bad instances that happened very close to the place where I was now worshiping...

I could barely sing the song "We Exalt Thee" as these two emotional trains where colliding in my heart. There I was trying to sing these words:

For Thou, O Lord, art high above all the earth

Thou art exalted far above all gods

For Thou, O Lord, art high above all the earth

Thou art exalted far above all gods



I exalt Thee, I exalt Thee

I exalt Thee, O Lord

I exalt Thee, I exalt Thee

I exalt Thee, O Lord

I couldn't help but to cry as I thought about myself praising the Lord of heaven and earth a few hundred yards from the spot where Child Protected Services came to interview me. The situation was so bad back then, but God is so good nonetheless. As I tried to gain my composure, I realized that the next Bible text I am preaching on is Acts chapter 17...one verse hit me today during worship this morning:

He made from one man every nation of mankind

to live on all the face of the earth,

having determined their appointed times and the boundaries

of their habitation that they would seek God,

if perhaps they might grope for Him and find Him,

though He is not far from each one of us;

for in Him we live and move and exist,

as even some of your own poets have said,

'For we also are His children.'

Acts 17:26-28

I am on vacation right now and having a difficult time explaining this, but I guess the bottom line is it struck me in a whole new way that God has always been working on me—even back then when life was kind of tough. I am grateful for those difficult times because they shaped me into the man that I am today.

On this Independence Day, I am so thankful that I am Dependant totally and completely on God. I am reminded that the difficulties I face presently will ultimately shape me into the person He desires me to be.

To God be the glory!

Western Days Parade

2010 marks the second year Valley Baptist Church entered the Western Day Parade! A great time was had by all!

The theme for our float was "Saddleridge Ranch" which corresponds with this years Vacation Bible School theme. We are looking forward to VBS this year...it will be a great time for all!

Mongolia 5-03-2010

Sorry about the slowness of my updates. This week has been rough on me as I was struck with a major stomach problem that affected both ends of my body. With all my travels to third-world countries, I think I was a little over confident with my stomachs ability to handle the challenges of the many viruses and bacteria present in these parts. Let's just say I learned a funny saying (that was directed towards me): "Even steel has a melting point!" Well, on my fifth day into this, I am feeling much better. Unfortunately, it is just in time for me to leave this Tuesday at 3pm (pst). I can't believe how fast this trip has gone by!

Today we had a pretty cool day. We headed out to one of Mongolia's National Parks. It was beautiful. Richard was stoked as there were tons of serious rocks to climb. He says it was just like Joshua Tree, just with colder temps and pine trees. Again the weather here is amazing. We arrived with snow falling and left with sunny and 60 degrees--this seems very normal for Mongolia. As we left the park, we noticed a Kazak man with a Golden Eagle on the side of the road. He uses his eagle to hunt wolves, foxes, rabbits, and whatever else. We stopped and he let us hold the eagle--amazing. I don't have the words to express the beauty, size, strength, and awe this bird embodied.

Please keep us in your prayers as we travel home beginning this Tuesday at 3pm (pst) and arriving in San Diego Wednesday at 12:30pm (pst).

Finally, if you are interested to hear about (including pictures and videos) our trip. We are planning on having a time of sharing at Valley Baptist Church on May 21 at 7pm (I think it is seven...I will send out another email if I am wrong).

Thank you all for your prayers and support!

Gunnar

Meditations from Mongolia

"San-ban-o" (Hello),

Technically this is wrong as this is what you would say to an individual, not a group. Today has been a good day. We started out by going to church here in the city. Christians are a very small minority group in Mongolia. The main religion is Buddhism--or a major influence from it. Mongolia is a land and people wedged between Russia and China. The influence of these two countries is very obvious, yet the Mongolians are a people of their own.

As a Christian it was a very special experience to worship with the believers here even though it is a different language. They sang, shared with each other and were taught from the Bible. There were about 30 people present in the hotel conference room where the church meets. There aren't words that express my feelings when I heard them sing. They have beautiful voices and it was really cool when I recognized a song or two that was transliterated from English to Mongolian. At the end of the service (about 2 hours total), Richard and I were invited to share. I shared with them that it was special to me to worship with them as we are united through Christ. When you travel overseas one's citizenship is very apparent as you stand in line in various customs lines with your passport. This trip I have seen USA, Russia, Spain, Chinese, Mongolian, Chech, New Zealand, and a few other passports in line. In church this morning there were about three nationalities represented--USA, Mongolia, and South Korea, yet as Christians we share citizenship in heaven. It was this thought that compelled me to share from Philippians 3:21-4:1 when I was invited to speak to the church body. Words do not adequately express the fellowship that believers share in Christ even when there is no cultural or language connections. This morning was sweet and I can't wait to experience next week in Ho-tic next Sunday. Ho-tic is about a 12 hour drive to the north west and is about 60 miles from the Russian border. I would love to go to the border to look over, but I don't think this will happen. Maybe on my next trip. Here is a little bonus trivia: All of Mongolia is "outer-Mongolia." "Inner-Mongolia" is south of Mongolia and is in China.

After church we had a great lunch thanks to Heidi. Spaghetti was on the menu and they were very thankful for the Parmesan Cheese that we brought as a gift. Funny, because the Parmesan Cheese almost didn't make the cut because of its size and I don't understand why people like it. But it was a hit because they can't get it here.

Okay, so after lunch we had a great treat watching Mongolian wrestling. I will do my best to describe what I saw, but you really need to search "Mongolian wrestling" on Youtube. So these guys are stout and strong. Some tall, some short, some fat, some skinny, but all HARD. Before I saw it, I thought I would like to give it a try if I could get a waiver on the uniform (more to come on that), but when I saw these guys they were bad to the bone. I wanted nothing to do with them when I saw them in person--the only other time I felt this was when I had tickets on the glass at a NHL match and I decided pounding on the glass was a bad idea due to the size of the hockey players. Okay to the uniforms. Picture sweet colorful leather boots that come up to your knees, then take your pick of a very tight/skimpy blue or red speedo, and a shawl that covers your arms. Just google this to see pictures. There are multiple battles before you for a few hours. The goal is to get the other guys knees to touch the ground first. The winner pretends to fly around like an eagle, the looser unstraps the string that holds the "shawl" over their shoulders. Then, no matter if you win or loose, the older fighter reaches over the looser to pat him on the bottom. I think this shows that the older man ultimately is respected over the younger.

Okay, next thought. This is short. I learned that Mongolians value family and children. Every mother who has 8 children is awarded an official medal from the government. You can't buy these, but I am going to search for two old ones from the "Zar" (market) to give two moms I know with over 8 kids--they deserve it in my book. Hopefully I can find these two medals in the antique section of the "Zar."

Next thought. No credit cards are used in Mongolia. Cash is king. Super awesome. I can't help but to imagine how this affects the culture socially and emotionally. I imagine Americans would be happier and more content if we didn't live and operated in cash and free from debt.

Tonight we are heading over to the headquarters to have a party in sending off a family who has been serving here for about 15 years. The word is out that we brought coffee and have been asked to supply the coffee for tonight's gathering. Serving the Lord has always been rewarding, but it seems extra special when I can utilize good coffee in blessing others! :)

The need is so great here, yet the workers are few. I think by next winter there will only be 3 families serving together to reach this country with the good news. This is a hard work and I am overwhelmed with how rewarding it is to be here to support an encourage this family who is serving. I am thankful for those who shared with the financial burden of this trip and supplies and for Valley Baptist Church who supported my going. I believe this is just the first trip of more to come.

Okay, I gotta run. Have a blessed day at church today. I am praying for the believers at VBC!

Blessings,
Gunnar